Texas Tech University Athletics
First Series Proves to Be a Slugfest
February 15, 2005 | Baseball
Feb. 15, 2005
By Jenna Sampson, Texas Tech Media Relations
Despite giving up seven runs a game and often heading into the middle innings neck and neck with Northern Illinois, the Red Raiders managed to heat things up and pull out a 3-0 sweep in their first series of the season. Hurlers Randy Gattis and Joe McCoy were hot from the mound, each picking up a win and establishing themselves as hot contenders for throwing time this season. Gattis added a career-high five strikeouts on Saturday, while McCoy allowed just two runs in six innings on Sunday for his second win of the week. Head Coach Larry Hays agreed, claiming the pair as the bright spots on the mound along with closer Carleton Hargrove.
"Northern Illinois is really a competitive team. Their starting pitcher really gave us trouble and threw well, so it was a challenge for us and we were glad to hang in there. Today was a lot better for us. It was our cleanest game and we did things a whole lot better. Starting on the mound was McCoy, and I thought he was outstanding," said Hays after Sunday's game.
The pitching, however, was overshadowed by the Red Raider attack at the plate. Fans should get used to hearing the soundtrack song from the movie "The Natural" blaring over the loudspeakers at Dan Law Field this season. Every time a Red Raider hits a bomb, he takes a trip around the bases to the famous song, and is greeted by guns firing at home plate.
Freshman slugger Chris Richburg started off the series on Friday with a seventh inning blast over the left field fence. On Saturday, redshirt freshman David Steffey smashed a two-run homerun in his only at-bat, while shortstop Cameron Blair gave Tech a 6-4 lead with his fourth career grand slam.
"It's always thrilling because it's the ultimate homerun song. The ultimate hit in any baseball movie is "The Natural," and it's really exciting hearing it coming out and then the guns when you step on home plate. It's just a real big thrill," said Blair.
Blair also logged a career-high five hits with four RBI on Saturday and added a school-record tying four stolen bases. He ended the series with eight hits and six RBI. Blair was busy turnin' two throughout the series, and added a few entertaining snags to gun out Huskie runners at first.
Fellow senior Cody Fuller added six RBI and five hits, including an RBI triple on Sunday to put Tech up 12-5 in the eighth. Fuller also moved into fourth place on the school's all-time stolen bases list with a career total of 59. Junior third baseman Joey Callender leads the team with a .571 average at the plate and chipped out a team-high three hits on Sunday.
"We've got a lot of older guys that are stepping up. Cody (Fuller) and Cameron (Blair) are showing some of the younger guys how it's supposed to be done and we're just trying to follow their lead," said Richburg.
Richburg got the starting nod at first base, hit clean-up for the Red Raiders, and currently leads the team with nine RBI. Richburg was quick to point out that his spot in the lineup was due in part to the coaches for making a few changes in his swing.
"I had a lot of fun. I was glad to get the chance to play this weekend. I was a little nervous and wanted to get the first series behind us," he said.
"Sometimes he doesn't get many hits, but he seems to be one of those guys that hits with guys on base," Hays added.
Richburg wasn't the only freshman to step up during the series. Catcher Matt Smith had to take over behind the plate when starter Cooper Fouts went down with an injury. Smith hit 3-for-5 with two walks, one of which helped load the bases for Blair's grand slam.
"It's really great for us as a team to see those guys step up because it makes us as seniors feel like we've done our job as leaders to show them the ropes. It's tough, it's a grind, and it's about consistency. I'm glad those guys are playing well. When I was their age, I didn't have the first clue about what to do," said Blair.
As a senior, Blair knows the road ahead in the Big 12 conference won't be as forgiving as the last three games. The Red Raiders were off to a slow start in each of the three wins, coming from behind each time.
"We have a lot to work on. Our pitchers need to body up and throw a lot more strikes and go after hitters, especially after big innings we have as hitters. We have to concentrate earlier in the game because you're going to have to jump on guys early to get them down. That's really important in Big 12 baseball because they're so big and powerful. I think there are a lot of things we need to work on and I hope we can get those things accomplished so the rest of the season turns out like this," Blair added.
Coach Hays also commented on the danger of making comebacks a pattern, claiming the next four games won't allow wiggle room on the scoreboard.
"We just have to try to win in the first part of the game for awhile. Coming from behind sounds good, but it will catch up with you sooner or later," he stated.
Blair sees the ability to overcome adversity as a big plus this early in the season, but notes that the team as a whole needs to work on jumping out early in the game.
"We had to really focus and battle through things because we got down early in the second game, down in the first game, down in the third game, and I think the ability to come back and put runs on the board when we were down was definitely the big thing this weekend," he said.
The undefeated Red Raiders hit the road on Tues. and will look to jump out early against No. 21 ranked TCU at 7 p.m. Tech returns for another three-game home stand when they host Western Illinois on Fri. at 3 p.m. at Dan Law Field.
